1996 AC Delco 400

1996 AC Delco 400
Race details
Race 29 of 31 in the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1996 AC Delco 400 program cover.
The 1996 AC Delco 400 program cover.
Date October 20, 1996
Official name 32nd Annual AC Delco 400
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Scheduled Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Average speed 121.73 miles per hour (195.91 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Robert Yates Racing
Time 23.291
Most laps led
Driver Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Laps 207
Winner
No. 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Eli Gold, Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1996 AC Delco 400 was the 29th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 20, 1996, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Ricky Rudd, driving for his own Rudd Performance Motorsports team, would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. Meanwhile, third-place finisher, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte, would manage to overtake the points lead from teammate Jeff Gordon, leading Gordon by 32 points.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second.

Background

[edit]
The layout of North Carolina Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.[3]

Entry list

[edit]
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac Hooters
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Silver Splash
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford QVC
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Spam
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Lowe's
12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Badcock Home Furniture
15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford Hayes Modems
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar, The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Parts America
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Camel Cigarettes
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Cartoon Network, The Flintstones
30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Todd Bodine Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Skoal
37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Kmart, Little Caesars
40 Robby Gordon Team SABCO Chevrolet First Union
41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac Coors Light
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
60 Ed Berrier Berrier Racing Ford Berrier Racing
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Prodigy
75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford Diamond Rio
79 Norm Benning T.R.I.X. Racing Pontiac T.R.I.X. Racing
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford Square D, TIC Financial Systems
82 Terry Byers Byers Racing Chevrolet Byers Racing
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Burger King
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
95 Gary Bradberry Sadler Brothers Racing Ford Shoney's Inn
98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide

Qualifying

[edit]

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, October 18, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, October 19, at 9:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-32 would be decided on time,[4] and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points.

Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.291 and an average speed of 157.194 miles per hour (252.979 km/h).[5]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Ed Berrier, Norm Benning, and Terry Byers.

Full qualifying results

[edit]
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.291 157.194
2 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 23.367 156.683
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.399 156.468
4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.411 156.388
5 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 23.472 155.982
6 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 23.480 155.928
7 40 Robby Gordon Team SABCO Chevrolet 23.492 155.849
8 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 23.536 155.557
9 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 23.538 155.544
10 33 Todd Bodine Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.551 155.458
11 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 23.560 155.399
12 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 23.584 155.241
13 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 23.592 155.188
14 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 23.601 155.129
15 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.602 155.122
16 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 23.602 155.122
17 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 23.604 155.109
18 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac 23.614 155.044
19 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.633 154.919
20 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.640 154.873
21 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 23.651 154.801
22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 23.652 154.795
23 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 23.659 154.749
24 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 23.691 154.540
25 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 23.693 154.527
Failed to lock in Round 1
26 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 23.601 155.129
27 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 23.637 154.893
28 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 23.677 154.631
29 41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.693 154.527
30 29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 23.731 154.279
31 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.735 154.253
32 95 Gary Bradberry Sadler Brothers Racing Ford 23.766 154.052
33 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 23.771 154.020
34 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23.772 154.013
35 78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford 23.830 153.638
36 15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford 23.836 153.600
37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 23.869 153.387
38 30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 23.887 153.272
Provisionals
39 75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford -* -*
40 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
41 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford -* -*
Failed to qualify
43 60 Ed Berrier Berrier Racing Ford -* -*
44 79 Norm Benning T.R.I.X. Racing Pontiac -* -*
45 82 Terry Byers Byers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

[edit]
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 393 81 running 180 $90,025
2 1 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 393 207 running 180 $62,125
3 19 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 165 $46,725
4 20 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 393 47 running 165 $35,950
5 22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 393 14 running 160 $25,675
6 5 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 393 1 running 155 $33,300
7 4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 146 $31,100
8 25 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 393 0 running 142 $28,900
9 15 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 393 37 running 143 $30,700
10 14 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 393 0 running 134 $28,100
11 12 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 393 0 running 130 $17,400
12 3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 392 1 running 132 $35,000
13 28 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 392 0 running 124 $29,150
14 34 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 392 1 running 126 $23,700
15 13 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 392 0 running 118 $28,200
16 17 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 392 0 running 115 $23,200
17 41 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 391 0 running 112 $29,200
18 9 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 391 0 running 109 $22,700
19 8 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 391 0 running 106 $15,400
20 10 33 Todd Bodine Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 390 0 running 103 $25,850
21 24 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 100 $21,525
22 29 41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 97 $21,325
23 31 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 94 $21,125
24 40 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 389 0 running 91 $20,925
25 11 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 389 0 running 88 $20,925
26 6 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 387 1 running 90 $13,525
27 32 95 Gary Bradberry Sadler Brothers Racing Ford 387 0 running 82 $10,125
28 26 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 386 0 running 79 $20,225
29 39 75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 385 0 running 76 $13,025
30 37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 377 0 running 73 $12,825
31 21 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 353 0 running 70 $12,600
32 16 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 326 0 handling 67 $19,000
33 42 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 311 0 water pump 64 $9,400
34 33 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 311 0 crash 61 $16,300
35 23 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 305 0 crash 58 $16,200
36 36 15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford 303 0 crash 55 $16,175
37 30 29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 294 0 engine 52 $16,175
38 18 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac 281 0 crash 49 $16,100
39 27 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 267 3 crash 51 $17,675
40 38 30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 225 0 crash 43 $17,100
41 35 78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford 140 0 handling 40 $9,100
42 7 40 Robby Gordon Team SABCO Chevrolet 4 0 crash 37 $9,100
Failed to qualify
43 60 Ed Berrier Berrier Racing Ford
44 79 Norm Benning T.R.I.X. Racing Pontiac
45 82 Terry Byers Byers Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Green Jr., Ron (October 21, 1996). "Rudd's Rockingham victory extends streak". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Strubin, John (October 21, 1996). "Rudd gamble works despite pit(iful) crew". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 73. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc". Fasttrackracing.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  4. ^ "AC Delco 400". The Charlotte Observer. October 18, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Harris, Mike (October 19, 1996). "Jarrett shows muscle in battle for Winston Cup crown". Palladium-Item. p. 16. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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